Thanksgiving is a unique holiday.
It is the only major holiday that is completely American, commemorating an event specifically from the annals of this nation and no other. It is independent of religion; although prayer is often involved in its celebration, it is actually a secular holiday established for the purpose of commemorating an event in (relatively) modern history. It is generally a gifting-free event; although there is a slowly-growing practice of sending cards, there are generally no boxes wrapped with ribbons & bows being exchanged as part of the usual celebrations. It has no specific centerpiece symbolizing its roots; although images of turkeys & pilgrims abound and some families have certain candle holders or silverware or decorations used just for the holiday, there is no altar, no Christmas tree, no Hanukkia or Kinara, no special lanterns.
And yet it has a very special place in the hearts of many -- partly (I like to think) because its very purpose and theme give everyone a small block of time specifically meant to remind one & all of what is good in their lives, what is meaningful in their lives, what it is in their lives that add value without a dollar sign attached.
In short, it is a time to take personal inventory of one's life & heart and... well, give thanks.
That said, I just wanted to say a quiet, sincere "thank you" to...
...all my family's friends for being our friends, for sharing our laughter, tears, and simchas, and for opening up their lives for sharing with us;
...all those individuals in the IA community who have lent advice, information, and the occasional shoulder (real or virtual) upon which we could lean;
...all those first responders, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, and plain ol' vanilla passers-by who have gone out of their way to give whatever help was needed after accidents large & small;
...and all those people -- relatives, friends, acquaintances, total strangers -- who have accepted our definition of "family" as being a far larger, greater thing than can be described by the mere miracle of the human genome.
There are no words for how thankful I am to have the Pipsqueak in my life, or that she has both her Grandma & Grandpa available to participate in hers. And while I look at the aftermath of recent domestic & international news with a mixture of sorrow and horror, I am thankful that my widely-scattered family remains intact and (mostly) healthy. You can fix things, but you can't replace people.
So... maybe, somewhere between trying to stretch that leftover turkey for one more day, trying to find the best deal on that gift for the next major holiday on the calendar, and wondering howintheworld you'll be able to cover the next round of monthly bills...
Take a moment, take inventory, and make sure you remember all that you have to be thankful for.
No comments:
Post a Comment